HUNTINGTON BEACH Central Library as seen from the Central Park (OC Tribune photo).
In an effort to head off the privatization of the city’s library system, three members of the Huntington Beach City Council are asking to put the matter before the public.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the council, a proposal by Councilmembers Rhonda Bolton, Dan Kalmick and Natalie Moser will be considered.
What they’re asking for is to place on the Nov. 5 general election ballot a proposed charter amendment to require a majority vote of the city council and a majority vote of those citizens voting “to approve any proposal that would change the wholesale management of the library and/or any proposal to operate the library with a private contractor that would employ library staff to achieve cost savings” as well as an advisory vote of voters on whether to “hire a third-party contractor to operate the HBPL; replacement of the current management structure.”
Also, they are asking the city manager to “cease any further work” on requests for proposals to operate the library system.
Unlike most Orange County cities, Huntington Beach operates its own library system.
The council majority has already spoken in favor of privatization, and that comes in the wake of earlier moves to create a parent-guardian review board for books available to chidren, a move that some critics have called “censorship.”
The council will meet in its chambers in closed session at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the regular meeting at 2000 Main St. (at Yorktown Avenue).